Releases & Statements

SACRAMENTO – Assembly Speaker John A. Pérez (D-Los Angeles) today announced his Democratic leadership team and unveiled the Assembly’s committee assignments for the remainder of the 2009-2010 Regular Session. Honoring his commitment to encourage bipartisan solutions to the challenges facing California, Pérez appointed Assemblymember Cameron Smyth (R-Santa Clarita) to chair the Assembly Committee on Local Government and Assemblymember Paul Cook (R-Yucca Valley) to chair the Assembly Committee on Veterans Affairs. The last time a Republican was appointed by a Democratic Speaker to chair an Assembly committee was 2002.

Pérez’s appointments also improve the balance of representation on committees, and Republicans will see a net gain of two committee vice chairmanships. In announcing the appointments Speaker Pérez said:

“When I was sworn-in as Speaker I said we must embrace bipartisan cooperation in order to create jobs, turn the economy around and help solve the many other challenges facing our state. The appointments I’m announcing not only reflect the values of the strong Democratic majority the people of California sent to Sacramento, they also include more representation of Republican points of view. As I pledged, I have appointed two Republican members to chair Assembly committees, and there are also more Republican vice-chairs and greater bipartisan balance on committees. With the difficult tasks before us of creating new jobs and implementing real reform, I want to make sure Assembly Committees maximize the talent and experience of all our members.”